Michael Carroll Dooling

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A Miscellany of Rare Books

from the

17th Century

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Council of Trent with Index of Forbidden Books

Calliensi, Horatio Lucio.  Sacrosancti Concilii Tridentini Canones, et Decreta cum citationibus ex utroq. Testamento, & Iuris Pontificij Constitutionibus, aliisque S.R.E. Concil. ab Horatio Lucio Calliensi I.C. & Modoetiae Archipresb. collectis…   Bassani (Bassano del Grappa): Jo. Antonium Remondium, n. d. (early 17^th century).

8vo, (16), 308, (42), 72pp, 1 plate showing the resurrection of Christ.  Title page has ink and blind-stamp from St. Michael’s Monastery in Hoboken , New Jersey (founded in 1864 and closed in 1981).  Bound in vellum (somewhat soiled and spotted, front joint is broken with some loss of spine (about .5" x 4"), small amount of worming in first few pages and on spine.

The Council of Trent lasted from 1545 to 1563 was the 19^th ecumenical council held by the Catholic Church.  Its main object was the definitive determination of the doctrines of the Church in answer to the heresies of the Protestants; a further object was the execution of a thorough reform of the inner life of the Church by removing the numerous abuses that had developed in it.  It also developed a list of books and authors prohibited by the Church titled Index Librorum Prohibitorum.  "When printing was invented in the fifteenth century the Church, apprehending the threat to her domination over thought and belief, endeavoured to intensify her control over books, and in 1557 the Inquisition under Pope Paul IV drew up the first Index Librorum Prohibitorum…" (Craig, Banned Books of England, pp.18-19).  This list was updated several times and this edition contains the original list plus appendices.  Included in this list are Martin Luther, Gerard Mercator, Philipp Melancthon, and Niccolo Machiavelli.

 $375

Works of Giovanni Pierio Valeriano

Valeriani (Valerianus) Bellunensis, Ioannis Pierii (1477–1558).  Hieroglyphica sive de Sacris Aegyptiorum… Coloniae Agrippinae (Cologne): Antonij Hierati, 1614.

This major work by Valerianus (translated Treatise on Ancient Symbols) was originally published in 1556 and went through many editions.  Contains about 331 curious woodcut illustrations including animals, birds, humans, mythological beasts, etc.  

Bound with another important work by the same author (paginated separately) entitled Pro Sacerdotum Barbis as Clariss: Cardinalem Hippolytum Medicem…paginated with his Poemata.  Cologne: 1631.

Sacerdotum Barbis is a defense of the growing of beards by ecclesiastical dignitaries and is the earliest separate treatise on beards ever published. It was first printed in Rome under the pontificate of Pope Clement VII (1523-34) who wore a beard. There was considerable interest in this question during the Reformation when the beard had become the distinctive sign of the Protestant pastor.

Bound with another scarce work by the same author (paginated separately) entitled Hieroglyphicorum Collectanea ex Veteribus et Neotericis Descripta…Francofurti (Frankfurt): Erasmi Kempfferi sumptimbus Antonij Hierati, 1613.

Measures 205 mm x 250 mm, bound in full vellum soiled and scuffed with worn chipped edges and cracked front joint; split on lower spine, old water stain visible in the first third of the book,  pagination – (2) (60), 760, (54), 123, (1) 248, (8), 24, (2).

Valeriano was born at Belluno in 1477 and his family name was Bolzani.  He became apostolic prothonotary  and professor of eloquence at Rome.  He died at Padua in 1558.

$2,750

A Controversial Classic on Marriage

Sanchez, Thoma (Societate Jesu). Disputationum des^to Matrimonii Sacramento.  Venetiis ( Venice ): Ioannem Guerilium, 1619.

Folio, three volumes in two, bound in vellum (worn and chipped); joints on Volume two split, about 3” of front joint on Volume I split; Volume I contains 551 pp., Volume 2 contains 402 & 425 pp.; large woodcuts on title pages, a few previous owner’s inkstamps are found in both volumes, lacks front end page in Volume I, some worming throughout.

This controversial treatise on marriage, morality and sexual sin possessed tremendous authority in the time after the Council of Trent.  No work on the subject of marriage was more frequently quoted than that of Thomas Sanchez.  It is a key work to understanding the church – in particular, marriage politics and marriage legislation.  Originally printed in 1602, numerous editions were printed throughout Europe into the middle of the 18^th century.  This early edition has been much read and consequently worn.    A typed description on the front pastedown of Volume I quotes a note that is now absent that reputedly stated, “Notorious work, whose minuteness in describing marital difficulties & irregularities raised a storm of protest from the outraged clergy & caused its temporary suppression.”  A very important early work on marriage.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “Sanchez, born at Cordova in 1550 belongs to those who are much abused on account of their works. The chief work of Sanchez and the only one which he himself edited, is the "Disputationes de sancti matrimonii sacramento ." The first edition is said to have appeared at Genoa in 1602; but this can have been only the first folio volume, for which permission to print was secured in 1599, as the two succeeding volumes contain both in their preface and the author's dedication the date 1603. The first complete edition was, according to Sommervogel, that of Madrid, 1605; later followed a series of editions printed at different places both before and after the author's death. The last edition seems to have been issued at Venice in 1754. The work had an extraordinary fate, inasmuch as some editions of the third volume have been placed on the Index of Prohibited Books, the grounds being not the doctrine of the author, but the perversion of the work and the suppression of what the author taught…The author's mode of expression shows a not always pleasing verbosity. As it deals with every possible point in the subject, it has often, quite unjustifiably, drawn upon Sanchez the charge of immorality.”

References:  Brunet, V, 115; De Backer-Sommervogel, VII, 532; Englisch, Der erotischen literatur, 145.

 $500

Woodcut Showing the Selling of Indulgences

Pope Paul V. Brief van interdictie vande sestienden over alle vruchten ende kerckelijcke pensioenen van Italien van onsen H. H. Paulus door de Goddelycke voorsichticheydt Paus den vyfden.  Wt den welcken blijckt het eynde, waerom dese tienden gheboden zijn.  (14 Jan. 1620).

Dutch edition, measures 5 ½ “ x 7 ¼ “, woodcut (measuring 1.75" x 2.25") on title shows a priest selling indulgences; 6 leaves (unfortunately, lacking one leaf), pages are darkened (possible old water damage).  In spite of its faults, this is quite a scarce pamphlet.

$125

An English Rarity

H. (Hawkins), R. (Richard).  A Discourse of the Nationall Excellencies of England .  London: Printed by Tho. Newcomb, for Henry Fletcher at the Three Gilt-Cups in the New Buildings, near the West-End of St. Pauls, 1658.

First Edition, 12mo, full polished calf with red spine labels, pp. (4), (12), 248 (4); edges of pages browned, brittle & chipped, foxing throughout, tears on title and Preface pages repaired with paper, edges of pages browned and brittle, bookplate of Harry H. Whittingham on front pastedown with penned notation that this book was re-bound in 1954; penned notations on title page and last text pages (dated 1720) by an early owner, John Farrell – one such notation next to the H. (of R. H.) on the title mistakenly indicates the author was named Howell and another notation reads “ Observe the character of the Commonwealth Parliament though from a Royalist”.  Short Title Catalogue H-1177.  Very Scarce.

$1,500

Early Jesuit Work

(Du Cambout de Pontchateau, Sebastien Joseph – 1634-1690). La Morale Pratique De Jesuites, Representee En Plusiers Histoires Arrivees Dans Toutes Les Parties Du Monde...  Cologne: Gervinus Quentel, 1669.

First Edition, 24mo, full calf with gilt device on front and rear covers (a circular device with a heart with wings under a crown); pp. (4), 22, 44, 287, (5); front cover detached, end pages darkened at edges, signature on title page.  An English edition, entitled The Moral Practice of the Jesuites Demonstrated by Many Remarkable Histories of Their Actions in All Parts of the World, was published in 1670. 

This anti-Jesuit work describes the misdeeds of Jesuits in various parts of the world including France, England, Spain, and Japan.  After the Preface are printed various prophecies relating to the Jesuits, one of which is by Saint Hildegard of Bingen.

$125

The Gentleman's Calling

(Allestree, Richard. 1619 - 1681)  The Gentleman's Calling written by the author of The Whole Duty of Man. London: R. Norton, 1673.

No edition stated, 12mo, full polished calf, gilt devices in all corners, pp. (4). (22), 166, (2), (4) minor ink notations on last page of text, page edges browned, two leaves have small chips repaired, light wear; no half-title, spine slightly faded, a very nice copy, Short Title Catalogue A-1123.

$275

Rare Work Set by 17^th Century Woman Typographer

Robinsonus, Hugo ( Hugh Robinson, c. 1584-1655).  Annalium Mundi Universalium Origenes Rerum, (& Progressus,) Sacras juxta ac Seculares, ab Orbe Condito tradentium, Tomus Unicus… Londini:  Typis Eliz. Flesher.  Prostat apud Ric. Davis, Bibliopolam Oxoniensem, 1677.                                                    

First Edition, folio, pp. (24), 754, 16; full leather covered boards (scuffed) and re-backed in brown leather with title gilt-stamped in second of six compartments, raised bands, title page has 3” split near inner margin, light soiling, some browning along page edges, rear blank end page has corner piece torn away.  There are several indicators of provenance – the title is signed E. M. MacFarlane, there is a bookplate from Saints Peter & Paul College in Oxford (“MacFarlane Bequest”), and there are two blindstamps from the Wigan Free Public Library; Short Title Catalogue  R-1680.  This work was reprinted in 1686 by another printer.

Hugo Robinson died before his religious and secular history of the ancient world was published.  Dr. Thomas Pierce (Dean of Salisbury) finished editing the work and brought it to publication.  This work is arranged chronologically by Anno Mundi, or year of the world, starting with Adam & Eve (A.M. 1) and ending with Nebuchadnezzar’s taking of Jerusalem (c. A.M. 3419).

This work was typeset by Elizabeth Flesher, one a small number of women in this trade in the early years of printing.  Other well-known women in the early printing industry were Charlotte Guillard, considered the first woman printer of importance and worked up to her death in 1556; Dinah Nuthead, who continued the work of her deceased husband, William Nuthead, in Maryland in 1695; Dona Francisca Flores who introduced printing at Oaxaca, Mexico in 1720; and Maria Magdalena Riedlin of Munich whose known works are dated from 1723 to 1744.

Other works by Elizabeth Flesher (by no means a comprehensive list) include Edward Coke’s Institutes of the Laws of England (1671), Sir John Fortesque’s De Laudibus Legum Angliae (1672), Enchiridion Legum (1673), Christopher St. Germain’s Two Dialogues in English, Between a Docteur of Divinity and a Student of  the Laws of England (1673), and Victorini Bythneri’s Lyra Prophetica David Regis (1679).

$7,500

Satire at John Dryden's Expense

(Brown, Thomas) The Reasons of Mr. Bays Changing his Religion Considered in a Dialogue between Crites, Eugenius, and Mr. Bays.  London: Printed for S.T., 1688. 

First Edition, 12mo, re-backed in tan calf with red leather label with seemingly original leather covered boards with blindstamped heraldic emblem (appears to be two dogs) and arrows pointing outward along perimeter; (14), (12), 32, (14); trimmed closely with some minor text loss at top and fore-edges.  Last leaf has three small holes with some text loss, first several pages (including title) have three small tears emanating from the gutter margin about 1” into the pages;  three of the tears are “repaired” with cellophane tape and should be removed by an preservationist and repaired properly.  Wing, Short Title Catalogue, B-5069.

This work was a satire on John Dryden as “Mr. Bays,” occasioned by his conversion to Roman Catholicism in 1686.  It contains quotations from Dryden’s works and numerous references to Tobacco (a copy can be found in The George Arents Collection on Tobacco at the New York Public Library).  Thomas Brown (1663-1704) was a satirist and author of the famous lines “I do not like thee, Dr. Fell; The reason why I cannot tell; But this I know, I know full well, I do not like thee, Dr. Fell.”  This was Brown’s response to Dr. John Fell, Dean of Christ Church who had expelled him but offered to remit the sentence if he could make a translation from Latin on the spot, which he did with his rhyme.

$225

Engraved Plates by Jan & Caspar Luiken

(Bosch, Lambert van den as “L. S.” (Lambertus Sylvius) (1610-1698).  Het Leven en Bedryf van Willem de Darde Koning van Groot-Brittanie, Vrankryk en Yrlany et, etc, Prince van Orangie etc., etc., etc., Sijn Geboorte, Jongelingschap, Erf-Stadthouderschap en Koninglyke Waardigheyd.  Onder Heerschappy en Bestieringe werdenverhandelt, Saken van Staat en Oorlog  van den Jare 1650 tot het uytgaen van 1693.  Amsterdam: Jan ten Hoorn, 1694.

First Edition, 8vo, two volumes, full calf, raised bands with 6 panels and red leather labels, spines a bit dry and shelfworn; Vol. I - (12) 432, 442. (6); Vol. II - (4), 180, 528, (8); engraved title in Volume I and 12 folding plates by Jan Luyken.  Generally a nice copy.

Amsterdam born artist, engraver and poet Jan Luiken (Luyken) (1649-1712) was a very important etcher in the period after Rembrandt. His artistry is distinguished by its clarity and detail. Luyken is most famous for work Het Menselyk Bedryf (Book of Trades), which his son Casper (1672-1708) assisted with in its production.  In Bosch’s work on the life of William of Orange, only one plate (a harbor scene) is signed – by C. Luiken.  Caspar assisted his father in the production of this work as well and signed his accomplishment.

$7,500

Two Scarce Works on Canon Law

Frances de Urrutigoyti (Michaelis Antonii).  Tractatus De Ecclesiis Cathedralibus earumque Privilegiis, & Praerogativis in Quo Omnia, Quae ad Earum Erectionem usque ad Divinorum celebrationem; singulasque partes tam interiorum, quam exteriorum ipsarum pertinent, summo studio, ac diligentia collecta, habentur… Second Edition Venetiis: Paulum Balleonium, 1698.

Bound with D. Ludovico A Saravia.  Tractatus de Jurisdictione Adjunctorum Coadjuvantium Episcopum Contra Praebendarios suos criminaliter procedentem.  (paginated separately from first work, with the same publication information).

Folio, bound in full vellum, vellum spine label with manuscript title, pp. 2 blank, (14), 472, 76, (4) 2 blank; intriguing woodcut on titles showing a two headed bird, library bookplate on front pastedown, hinges reinforced with old paper tape, minor soiling to covers, ink library stamps on several pages including title page.  An ink inscription at the base of the title page indicates this work at one time resided at the Bibliotheca Angeli Paulini Balestrieris.

Frances de Urrutigoyti was born in Zaragoza Spain in the early part of the 17^th century.  He studied jurisprudence at the University of Zaragoza and later became Archdeacon of Zaragoza.  His work outlines the laws relating to every aspect of church life and is comprehensively indexed.  It was originally published in 1665 at Lyon in two volumes.  He died in 1670.  Ludovico a Saravia was an expert in canon law at Zaragoza and Huesca and his work relates to criminal proceedings.

$500

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